Nearly six out of ten US consumers say they have had to cut back on the quantity or quality of food they buy because of increasing prices, a new report has claimed.
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The 2008 Hormel Hunger Survey, carried out by research firm Opinion Research Corp, shows that 67% of Americans say food prices have increased “a lot” since last year, and 61% say that corn-based ethanol is at least partly responsible for higher food prices.
Two-thirds of Americans say they are losing economic ground as inflation outstrips any increase in income, and 84% are concerned about rising food prices.
“It is estimated that more than 100 million people in the world have been forced into poverty and hunger because of the dramatic increase in food prices,” said Benjamin Senauer, professor of applied economics at the University of Minnesota, author and researcher. “Millions of American families’ food budgets have been stretched to the limit and beyond. Food stamp enrolment is up and food banks are seeing unprecedented demand.”
To help them cope with rising food costs, a majority of Americans have been forced to make adjustments in their food-buying habits, the study claimed, with 19% forced to choose between buying food or gas.
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By GlobalDataMore than half of the 800 adults interviewed are said to be taking “multiple steps” to reduce food costs, such as using coupons, buying more generic or store brands, eating at home more often, buying less expensive cuts of meat and buying more of less expensive staples such as rice and potatoes.
Two-thirds (67%) also say the US government should do more to solve “the hunger problem” in the US by making it a higher priority and providing more funding.
The survey also claimed that Americans believe ethanol is at least partly responsible for the higher food prices, with 57% agreeing with a statement that using corn to produce ethanol makes the hunger problem worse.
“Even as our country strives for energy independence, we hope our policy makers remember that our families come first,” Hormel chairman, president and CEO Jeffrey Ettinger said. “The more food we devote to making fuel, the more difficult it is going to be to feed people. Our first priority should be putting quality, affordable food on the table.”
The 2008 Hormel Hunger Survey was carried out in August 2008.
